A State-Of-The-Art Testing Facility
Cardiac tests are booked by referral from your healthcare provider or ER physician only.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
The Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a quick, painless, and non-invasive test that measures the heart’s electrical activity at rest. During the test, the patient lies comfortably on their back while small electrode leads are placed on specific areas of the chest and torso. These leads detect the heart’s electrical impulses as they travel through its chambers, causing muscle fibers to contract and generate the heartbeat.
The Holter Monitor is a small, wearable device that continuously records your heart’s electrical activity over an extended period, typically 24 to 48 hours. This painless and non-invasive test helps assess how your heart responds to daily activities and how your heart rhythms change during sleep.
During your appointment, the device will be securely fitted, and you will wear it as you go about your normal routine. You will also receive a Holter diary to log your activities and any symptoms you experience while wearing the monitor.
To ensure accurate results, do not restrict your activities, remove the device, or get it wet during the monitoring period.
Holter Monitor
Stress Test
A stress test is a diagnostic procedure used to evaluate how well your heart functions under physical exertion. This test helps detect blood flow issues, irregular heart rhythms, and overall cardiovascular health by monitoring your heart’s response to increased activity.
During the test, you will walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike while your heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG (electrocardiogram) are continuously monitored. The intensity gradually increases to assess how efficiently your heart pumps blood and whether there are any signs of reduced oxygen supply. If you are unable to exercise, a medication-induced stress test may be performed to simulate the effects of physical activity on your heart.
A stress test is commonly used to diagnose coronary artery disease, evaluate symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, and determine your overall fitness for physical activity. The results help your cardiologist develop an appropriate treatment or prevention plan based on your heart’s condition.
An echocardiogram is a specialized ultrasound that uses sound waves to create real-time images of the heart. This completely safe, non-invasive diagnostic tool provides crucial insights into the heart’s size, shape, movement, and function, including the condition of its chambers, valves, walls, and blood vessels. It also helps assess blood flow and detect areas of weakened, damaged, or restricted heart muscle.
At Grand Medical Centre, we utilize advanced microbubble UEA echocardiography, a cutting-edge technique that enhances image clarity for more precise diagnosis. This involves administering a biocompatible ultrasound-enhancing agent (UEA) through an IV, allowing for remarkably detailed imaging. Unlike contrast agents used in other types of medical imaging, microbubble UEA echocardiography contains no dyes and does not use ionizing radiation, ensuring a completely safe and non-invasive experience with no side effects.
Echocardiogram (Enhanced Cardiac Imaging With No Down Side Or Down Time)
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor (ABPM)
The Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor (ABPM) is a lightweight, wearable device that continuously measures your blood pressure over an extended period, typically 24 hours. This non-invasive and painless test provides valuable insights into how your blood pressure fluctuates throughout daily activities and during sleep.
A spirometry test is a quick and simple procedure used to assess lung function and capacity. This painless and non-invasive test requires the patient to take deep breaths and then exhale as forcefully and as long as possible into a tube. The test is typically repeated three times to ensure accurate results.
The attached computer records the volume and speed of the exhaled air, which is then analyzed by the cardiologist to help identify the cause of shortness of breath and assess the potential presence of restrictive or obstructive lung disease. While spirometry alone is not a definitive cardiac test, it plays a crucial role in the diagnostic process. When combined with other assessments, it provides essential insights that help guide an effective treatment plan.
Spirometry
Home Sleep Apnea Test
An Home Sleep Test (HST) is an overnight test of your sleep conducted in the comfort of your own bed. Home Sleep Test (HST) means that your home sleep test is actually measuring your sleep and sleep apnea, in contrast to most sleep tests on the market for use at home, commonly known as Home Sleep Apnea Tests or HSAT which do not measure sleep itself, reducing the value of the test to evaluate only sleep apnea based on oxygen saturation and some form of respiratory metrics.
What can be diagnosed from a Home Sleep Test?
- Sleep Quality, reflecting Health Outcomes such as Cardiovascular Health.
- Sleep Duration, including Total Sleep Time and Wake After Sleep Onset.
- Sleep Apnea, including Obstructive and Central Sleep Apnea.
- Health biomarkers, including Sleep Fragmentation and Periodicity during Sleep.
Your reliable partner in comprehensive heart care solutions.
Cardiovascular tests
Get in touch
- Phone : 519-805-2280
- Fax : 226-227-1437
- info@grandmedicalcentre.ca
- Unit 210, 217 Terrace Hill Street Brantford, ON